Life is...

 

Life is big.

At times it can feel like you are standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon with the expectation that you are intended to reach the opposite end in a single jump.

 

Life is scary.

There are days when the idea of leaving through the front door and stepping into the unknown can cause a puddle of fear to pool in your stomach.

 

Life is hard.

Each day a new choice, a new decision, a new avenue, a new hardship and a new responsibilty must be acquired.

 

Life is big and it is scary and it is hard - but - life is also wonderful, beautiful and an adventure.

 

Life is both the bad and the good.

Life is a series of expecations - exceeded and missed.

Life is a true gift from God - one that we are not always so thankful to receive.

 

The prophet Jeremiah was called the Weeping Prophet because most of the news he shared with Israel was depressing. But even in the midst of the bad news of war, destruction, death, hatred and abuse, Jeremiah was able to share the hope God had for His people.

 

The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

Jeremiah 33:14

 

Woven throughout the 33rd chapter of Jeremiah, the Lord shares with Israel the desolation and destruction they will endure at the hand of their enemies, but He also tells His beloved people that He will restore their home, health and happiness.

 

Yes, Israel had to endure severe hardships, but He promises them a restoration of their relationship with God and His blessing on their nation.

 

Through His message to the Israelites, the Lord makes each of us the same promise.

He tells how some days our lives will stink.

We will face hardships.

We will lose battles.

We will become ill.

We will suffer extinction of wealth.

We will be miserable.

but

We have hope.

We can be restored to His good favor.

We can know that His love endures.

Wcan be assured that our sufferings will pass.

We can know that He will never forsake us.

 

Life is both good and bad experiences.

But regardless of whether we are up or down we are promised that He is always with us.

And we are promised that His love will endure forever.

That is a promise in life that makes the bad days turn into good ones.

Scripture
Jeremiah 33

Quote

 "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck



Life is...A Roller Coaster - Psalm 31:1-5

 

 

 

 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge
Psalm 31:1

 

And I hate roller coasters!

I hate the feelings of anticipation as you ride up - slowly - 'click-click-click' - as your stomach drops like a counter-weight.
I hate the feeling of falling over the first hill at warp speed.
I hate the sensation of being thrust into your seat by centrifugal force.
I hate the little bar that is supposed to be the thing that keeps you from falling hundreds of feet to a splattery death.
And I hate having to trust a few inches of metal and wooden track to keep me on a speeding path and away from that splattery end.

Yep, I hate roller coasters.

But the thing is, life is pretty much one giant roller coaster.

Life is full of moments of anticipation...
Those moments when you want to speed ahead to the "good stuff". Moments when you want to force yourself through to the other side - to the 'peak moment'. And yet, you must endure the 'click-click-click' of anticipation.

And life can often feel like a free-fall after you reach a moment of pure success.
What do I do now? I've reached the mountain top - the good stuff - and it is only a moment before reality begins to invade.
And over the top of the hill you go, speeding toward the next challenge.

Each of our lives have moments of anticipation, great joy, fearful falling and speeding nearly out of control. And if we allow the roller coaster - the ups and the downs - to be the focus we will surely find ourselves nauseous with a bit of a headache from the twists and turns.

So, instead of focusing on the coaster - why not focus on the track?

God can be each of our tracks - if we choose to connect ourselves to Him.

He can be the metal and the wood that we can attach our crazy-life cars to.

He is the One element that will keep us safe, secure and loved in the midst of the twists and turns of the roller coaster of life.

When we "hitch" our cars to God, we can be assured that although there will be moments of shear panic in anticipation of what's to come or of falling into the unknown or of sheer bliss, we have the security of being attached to the One who gives us power and strength. We will be safe in the arms of Our Savior.

Just imagine riding a roller coaster without the security of the track? How dangerous and reckless that would be.

You wouldn't step into a roller coaster car that wasn't safely tethered to a track.

Why would you want to go through life without being securely attached to the life-giving track of God?

Scripture
Psalm 31:1-5

Quote
Trusting God is the greatest benefit we have as believers.
Joyce Meyer

Question
What is the scariest part of the roller coaster for you - and how can you trust God to help you through it?